2012 Robin DR400-140B accident at Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon

Overview and flight details On Sunday, 22 January 2012, a Robin DR400-140B registered F-GJQV, operated by a club, crashed at Sainte-Eulalie-de-Cernon (12) at an altitude of 2,570 ft. The flight was a local departure from Millau (12) intended to pass near the Millau Viaduct. The pilot took off from runway 32 at approximately 10:30 local time with three passengers. The aircraft reached the viaduct about ten minutes later. The pilot reported flying between 3,500 ft and 4,000 ft, although these figures came from his testimony and differed from recorded radar altitudes. ## Loss of control and impact On the return toward Millau, the pilot said he was heading toward the left-hand downwind leg at 3,600 ft, south of the aerodrome, when he lost visual references. He intended to make a half-turn to the left at constant altitude but could not regain sight of the ground and then decided to climb toward 4,000 ft. During this maneuver he heard the stall warning and realized he had unconsciously commanded a strong nose-up attitude. He also noted the aircraft was banked to the left when control was lost in a stall. He reduced power, applied right rudder, and exited the cloud layer at an estimated height of about 300 ft, with a speed of about 80 kt. The aircraft struck the ground with a high vertical speed, zero bank, and a nose-up attitude, coming to rest after about thirty meters. The pilot switched the battery off, cut the magnetos, set the emergency locator transmitter to manual, helped the passengers evacuate, and alerted emergency services. The front passenger was seriously injured and evacuated by rescuers. ## Meteorological conditions and pilot experience Presumed conditions at the accident site were wind from 290° at 10 kt with gusts to 22 kt, visibility above 10 km outside mist and 1,000 m to 3,000 m in mist, overcast stratus with a base at 500 ft and top at 4,000 ft, temperature 7 °C, dew point 6 °C, and QNH 1023. The TEMSI France chart valid at 10:00 had forecast local stratus between 500 ft and 2,000 ft, with local rain showers or mist reducing visibility to 1,500 m. Before the flight, the pilot had consulted the OLIVIA server and TEMSI/WINTEM charts but had not checked the METAR and TAF for Rodez (12), located 40 nautical miles to the northwest. The pilot had 79 flight hours since 2011, including 64 hours in dual command, all on the type. He had obtained his PPL in September 2011 and had flown about three hours as pilot in command since then.